he opening ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games are less than two months away, and Vermont looks poised to send another strong contingent of competitors to Russia.

The United States Ski and Snowboard teams announced their contingents for the games earlier this month, and the state is well represented. Seven alpine racers have Vermont connections, as do seven snowboarders, and two freestyle and freeskiers. Nordic teams have yet to be named, but rest assured more Vermonters will be on those rosters as well.

Of course, we’re right in the heart of ski country, so it should come as no surprise that skiers and riders with Vermont roots have a shot at Olympic glory in Sochi. But we think it is important to recognize the background work done to prepare these athletes for their competitive careers, including the Olympics.

Two area ski academies continue to identify and develop world-class skiers and riders. Both Mount Snow Academy and Stratton Mountain School have alumni on various Olympic teams. Top names include Kelly Clark and Devin Logan (see last week’s edition), both MSA grads, and SMS alums Lindsey Jacobellis and Ellery Hollingsworth. Their success is directly related to the education and coaching they received while at the two schools.

Barring injury, we should see all four of these Vermont-connected athletes, as well as some others we’re unaware of now, going for the gold at Sochi.